- Dyson has introduced the brand new ultra-thin, ultra-light PencilVac
- Its new Fluffycones floorhead is designed to keep away from hair tangling
- It seems to be like a specialist mannequin for exhausting flooring
I write about vacuum cleaners for a dwelling, and whereas efficiency varies, most new fashions today are likely to look roughly the identical.
So when information of a brand new addition to the Dyson vacuum lineup landed in my inbox, I anticipated to see one thing much like its current fashions: slick and high-quality, however not particularly distinctive or shocking.
How incorrect I used to be.
The newly unveiled Dyson PencilVac doesn't simply have an uncommon title, it's all-round some of the distinctive vacuums I've seen. This model is aware of what it's doing on this market – it makes among the greatest cordless vacuums you should purchase, and right now's easiest Dyson vacuums embrace options you continue to can't discover anyplace else.
So whereas the PencilVac strays a good distance from the tried-and-tested system of what works for vacuum cleaners, I'm very optimistic about its efficiency. Right here's a rundown of essentially the most intriguing options on this new launch…
1. It's ridiculously skinny
Essentially the most instantly noticeable factor concerning the PencilVac is that it's extremely streamlined. With out the floorhead, the entire thing is 1.5 inches / 3.8cm in diameter. To make that attainable, the model needed to develop a tiny new motor – the Dyson Hyperdymium 140k motor is simply 1.1 inches / 2.8cm extensive, and hidden fully throughout the deal with.
The PencilVac can also be impressively light-weight, clocking in at 4lbs / 1.8kg. For context, the lightest possibility in our greatest cordless vacuum roundup proper now’s 5.7lbs / 2.6kg, and there are a selection of fashions that weigh over 6.6lbs / 3kg.
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Usually, if you shrink down a vacuum, you sacrifice energy. That's why handheld vacuums are usually a lot much less 'sucky' than full-sized choices. That holds true for the PencilVac – there's 55AW of suction, in comparison with 115AW for the V8 (the oldest Dyson stick vacuum within the present vary) and a large 280AW for the latest-and-greatest Gen5detect. Nonetheless, whereas it's unlikely to be appropriate for a very deep clear, that's nonetheless an honest quantity of suction for the dimensions and weight.
As a facet observe, the 1.5-inch / 3.8cm diameter isn't incidental. Model founder James Dyson says, "I’ve lengthy needed to make a vacuum of solely 38mm diameter (the identical as my newest hair dryer, the Supersonic r)". The Dyson Supersonic r is the pipe-shaped dryer that was initially launched for professionals solely, however just lately joined the primary shopper vary.
2. There are cones as an alternative of rollers
Shifting right down to the enterprise finish, and also you'll discover the brand new 'Fluffycones' floorhead. It seems like a Pokémon, nevertheless it's truly a reimagined cleaner head. Vacuums historically have one brush roll, most two, and so they're tube-shaped. The Dyson PencilVac has 4 brushrolls, and so they're all conical.
There's logic to the tapering form: it helps direct lengthy hair alongside the roll and into the mud cup, whereas with parallel rollers the hair tends to simply wrap round and keep there, till your rip it off or assault it with scissors. Dyson's hair screw instrument additionally has a conical brush roll, and works precisely because it's meant to on the subject of tackling lengthy hair.
The cones undertaking out on the sides to allow them to clear proper to the perimeters of rooms, and the entire thing can lie flat to the bottom, with a clearance of simply 9.5cm / 3.75 inches off the ground.
I'm enthusiastic about Dyson's description of the rollers as 'fluffy', as a result of within the model's vocabulary that often signifies a gentle curler to be used on exhausting flooring solely. In truth, the extra I take a look at this vacuum, the extra I'm satisfied it's a specialist mannequin only for use on exhausting flooring. It's not specified within the press materials I’ve thus far, however it could make sense with the decrease suction and smaller mud capability.
3. There's no seen mud cup
Some of the baffling issues concerning the PencilVac is that it doesn't seem to have a mud cup. In fact, there may be one – just like the motor, it's hidden away contained in the deal with.
The capability is next-to-nothing: simply 0.08L. Nonetheless, Dyson has launched a mud compression system, which makes use of airto squish down the particles so that they take up as little room as attainable. Dyson claims which means it will possibly maintain 5 occasions the bodily quantity.
The emptying course of has additionally been reimagined, with a push-lever system changed by an exciting-sounding "syringe, no-touch bin ejection mechanism".
Because it pushes out mud and particles, the mechanism concurrently wipes the 'shroud'. I'm not completely clear what the 'shroud' is on this context, however I do know that protecting the interior mechanisms clear is vital to environment friendly vacuum efficiency, so this looks as if a great factor.
4. The floorhead glows and seems to drift
In addition to siphoning off hair as you clear, the floorhead cones have one other trick up their sleeve. The cones rotate in reverse instructions, the purpose being that this vacuum cleans simply as effectively when it's pushed ahead as when it's pulled again. It is a little bit of a weak spot on the common Fluffy floorhead – it has no hassle sucking issues up when shifting forwards, however pull it again and particles will pool behind it.
I'm intrigued to see how this new method works in apply – particularly as a result of Dyson describes it as "floating" throughout the ground. I’m wondering, too, if it would make this vacuum reversible altogether, given the truth that the deal with part seems to be very symmetrical.
Dyson has additionally added "laser-like" illumination to each the back and front of the floorhead. That is one other function borrowed from the exsiting Fluffy floorhead, and helps create large shadows on the tiniest bits of mud, which in any other case would possibly go missed. It solely works on exhausting flooring, which is one other indication this vac is probably going not for carpet.
5. There's a instrument that appears like a chimney brush
There's an intriguing addition to the instrument lineup within the type of a 'Rotating combi-crevice instrument', designed for cleansing in awkward gaps. This appears particularly geared in the direction of cleansing high-up, the place it may be tough to get your angles right. It makes explicit sense for an ultra-light vacuum like this one, which is way simpler to carry above your head than your common stick vacuum.
As an apart, it seems to be just like the PencilVac is button- relatively than trigger-operated. That's dictated by the streamlined form, nevertheless it's additionally nice information for maneuverability and simple of use – the truth that many Dyson vacs nonetheless use a set off to activate is a perpetual bugbear of mine.
You'll additionally get a Conical hair screw instrument, much like the one included with the most recent Dyson stick vacuums, for tackling lengthy hair on furnishings. Each might be saved on the magnetic charging dock.
6. It's app-connected
I'm a lot much less enthusiastic about this function, nevertheless it really feel like I ought to level out that that is the primary Dyson cordless vacuum to hook up with the MyDyson app. The app will present extra details about battery life and likewise report on filter standing. Nonetheless, there's additionally a display on the vacuum itself displaying remaining battery, so I'm hoping the app connection is an elective further relatively than a vital.
Worth & availability
The PencilVac will arrive in Australia first, with launch scheduled for August 2025. It's resulting from go on sale within the UK someday in 2026, and I'm awaiting data as to if/when it should come to the US. As of but I don't have any pricing data in any respect – I'll replace this text with extra particulars when I’ve them.
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